Parkhead Station Cafe ride

With only a couple of rides in on the FAT Bike last week and a day off shopping @ the TOON on Saturday is was time for a spin yesterday. Forecast was not looking good and was going to be a race to see how far we could get before the rain started. It was a cool start to the morning with a stiff breeze so Richy planned to have a ride upto Parkhead Station Cafe & back. By the time we got to the Consett junction I knew the last leg onto the open moor upto the cafe was going to be tough going. I was not wrong, it was a headwind all the way but it was dry and getting warmer as we reached the top. Normally its the opposite and you start to put layers on. Got to the top, quick break then join the hoards of riders heading down the Waskerley on the C2C. Its was like a motorway, never seen so many cyclists but is was the most popular weekend to do the C2C / longest day etc. Once we turned at Consett to head back to Durham it was alot quieter with just the usual dog walkers, horse riders, runners, kids etc ! Just got in the door and the heavens opened and i mean opened. We skirted the rain clouds all the way from Consett with just a few light shows so did well. Here is the Garmin route 47 miles and a couple of thousand foot climbed

REVIEW - Schwalbe Marathon Extreme - 700x35c tyres. I first purchased a pair of these tyres well over a year ago now for general use on the lines / urban riding as i was sick to death of wearing out general cx tyes & getting punctures. At the time it was the most I had ever spent on tyres for a bike and thought to myself these better be something special for the money. They are not the lightest buy any means but they are also not the heavy. They went on the rims well and pumped up great. After many rides / miles never had to touch them once. Right time to get a second pair and they had dropped in price as Schwalbe had took out a new model which had less offroad tread pattern - no good for me so stuck with the old model. These went onto Angus's spare wheels for more general / mileage use. Again no probs. Bought my new cx bike and a third pair was bought. These have never been off the bike from new and showing no signs of wear. Yes they are expensive but you save that in tubes / patches etc. They roll well on tarmac, plenty grip off road as long as its not too muddy, good puncture Double Defense protection and have a reflective strip on the sidewalls for night rides in the dark. Spa Cycles @ Harrogate still have stock in various sizes here